Essay About Charles Cornwallis And Second Earl Cornwallis

Charles Cornwallis
Essay Preview: Charles Cornwallis
Report this essay
The Beginning
On December 31, 1738, Charles Cornwallis was born the second Earl Cornwallis, since
his father, the fifth Baron Cornwallis, had been rewarded as a Viscount and the first Earl
Cornwallis. In 1661, Sir Frederick Cornwallis was rewarded a baron try by Charles II for
service to the Stuarts. His mother was the niece of Sir Robert Walpole. His uncle became
he Archbishop of Canterbury. Cornwallis was educated at Eton and moved in elite social
circles.
In 1756, about a month before his eighteenth birthday, Cornwallis purchased an ensigns
commission in the Grenadier Guards and then took the extraordinary measure of
attending a military school in Turin, Italy to actually study for the position. He actually
only stayed a few months, because he learned that his regiment had been called up to
serve in the Seven Years War in the allied army under Prince Ferdinand in 1758. He
never caught up with his own regiment, but he soon became aide-de-camp to the British
second-in-command Marquis of Granby, who would eventually command all British
forces on the European continent. He was present at the Battle of Minden on August 1,
1759.
After serving as a staff officer for about a year, in August 1759, Cornwallis was
promoted to Captain in the 85th regiment and returned to England to join his new
Colonel of the 12th Foot and took command of the unit in June. On July 15, 1761, the
unit was heavily engaged at Vellinghausen, Germany. It would see many other minor
engagements before entering winter quarters. The unit continued to see action in 1762.
In July 1762, Cornwallis received word that his father had died the previous month, passing the
estate and a seat in the House of Lords on to Charles, now 2nd Earl Cornwallis. He assumed the
seat in the House of Lords in November 1762. He managed to remain in favor with the court
even though he voted against the Stamp Act in March 1765. In July 1765, he was appointed a
lord of the bedchamber. He was named aide-de-camp to the King in August 1765. In March
1766, he voted against the Declaratory Act.
In March 1766, Cornwallis purchased a colonelcy of the 33rd foot. In 1768, he
married Jemima Tulle kin Jones, the daughter of the untitled Colonel James Jones of the 3rd Foot
Guards. The marriage would produce first a daughter, Mary and then a son, Charles. He then
declined further service in the government and in 1769; he gave up his appointment as lord of the
bedchamber for the post of joint vice-treasurer of Ireland. In 1770, he became a member of the
Kings Privy Council. In 1771, he became Constable of the Tower of London. In 1775, he was
promoted to Major General, which continued to show that King George III trusted in his abilities
even though Cornwallis opposed the Kings policies against the American colonies.
War Times
In the fall of 1775, the British began to assemble in the southern colonies. Now
Major General Charles Cornwallis, he was ordered to sail 7 regiments with 2 companies of
artillery from Cork. Cornwallis had easily advanced in the Kings services and asked for the job.
Vice Admiral Peter Parker warships were to convoy Cornwallis 2,000 troops in 30 odd
transports. They were to meet an officer appointed by Commander-in-Chief General Howe and
leave the men. Even though after the men left Cornwallis hands the were defeated he would get
promoted later.
Long Island August 22-29, 1776:
Now Lieutenant General Cornwallis commanded Howes reserves along with the
Hessian led Colonel Carl von Donop. They went ahead 4.5 miles ahead to clear the woods for
Howes main group. They stopped in Flatbrush spoiling Washingtons plans to get Cornwallis to
led him to Howe. As Washington watched Cornwallis from a hill the British main body pushed
forward undetected. Eventually the British caught on and were slowed down.
The Americans then went for Flatbrush. Cornwallis with his 71st regiment and 2nd
grenadier